Frozen strawberries are being recalled after hepatitis A infections

A voluntary recall of frozen strawberries has expanded as the Food and Drug Administration linked more retailers to a string of nine hepatitis A cases dating back to last year.

On Monday, the Willamette Valley Fruit Company of Salem, Oregon, announced the recall of frozen strawberries sold in Walmart, Costco and HEB stores under the Great Value brands at Walmart and Rader Farms Organic at Costco and HEB.

As of November, nine people have fallen ill in Washington state, California and Oregon, and three people have been hospitalized. The last known cases began in April, the FDA said.

“Consumers, restaurants and retailers should not sell, serve or eat frozen strawberries,” the FDA said Tuesday. “These recalled products should be thrown away.”

Noting that the products are sold nationwide and have a long shelf life, the FDA is urging consumers to check their freezers and throw away anything they find.

Affected products have so-called best-before dates — the latest time they are recommended for use — that range from Sept. 23, 2023 to Nov. 20, 2024. Specific best-before dates and lot codes that identify affected lots of products can be found at fda.gov.

The FDA investigation detected hepatitis A infections in frozen organic strawberries imported from Baja California, Mexico, reporting the first five cases of hepatitis A associated with them in March. The strain of hepatitis A in those cases was genetically identical to the one who had a outbreak of hepatitis A infections in 2022which was also linked to fresh organic strawberries imported from Baja California, Mexico.

In March, Wawona Frozen Foods, California Splendor and Scenic Fruit voluntarily recalled frozen strawberries they sold under the Wawona, Kirkland Signature, Simply Nature, Vital Choice, Made With, PCC Community Markets and Trader Joe’s brands. They were sold at Costco, Aldi, Meijer and other retailers.

The FDA said people usually get sick with hepatitis A within 15 to 50 days of eating contaminated food. Symptoms include fatigue, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, jaundice, dark urine, and pale stools.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention urged people who believe they have eaten these recalled frozen organic strawberries in the past two weeks and have not been vaccinated against hepatitis A to contact their health care provider. Preventive treatment, even after exposure, can help prevent disease.